ZURICH, SWITZERLAND (BNO NEWS) -- FIFA on Thursday announced that its Executive Committee on has chosen Russia to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, while the 2022 FIFA World Cup, was awarded to Qatar.

England, Netherlands and Belgium, Spain and Portugal, and Russia all submitted bids for the right to stage the 2018 finals. Both England and Spain are previous FIFA World Cup hosts, with the 1966 tournament on English soil ending in the country's only world crown to date. The Iberians staged the 1982 edition of world football’s showpiece event, when the Trophy was won by Italy.

For the 2022 edition, five candidates bid, including Australia, Korea Republic, Japan and the U.S. - the 1994 hosts - as well as the eventual winners, Qatar. The U.S., Japan and Korea had all previously staged the FIFA World Cup finals, with Japan and Korea becoming the tournament’s first joint-hosts back in 2002.

"I have to say thanks to to the Executive Committee of FIFA because for 2018 and 2022 we go to new lands, because the FIFA World Cup has never been in eastern Europe or the Middle East," said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, who announced the result of the FIFA Executive Committee's secret vote in Zurich’s Messe.

"But I have to give big compliments to all the bidders for the big job they have done and the messages they have delivered. All have delivered the message that football is more than just a game. Football is not only about winning; it is also a school of life where you must learn to lose, and that is not easy."

"You have entrusted us with the FIFA World Cup for 2018 and I can promise that you will never regret it," said Igor Shuvalov, Russia's deputy prime minister. "Let us make history together."

A clearly delighted Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani also expressed gratitude for the honor of hosting football's greatest tournament, while insisting that Qatar's historic FIFA World Cup would meet all expectations.

"Thank you for believing in change, for expanding the game and for giving Qatar a chance," he said. "You will be proud of us - and you will be proud of the Middle East. I promise you this."

The final presentations and the announcement of the host nations for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups was one of the biggest media events ever seen in Switzerland. Some 70 TV stations reported live from the official announcement at Zurich Exhibition Center, where around 1,000 reporters from all over the world also covered the event.

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